Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-07
SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER
that he was very handsome, after bronzed

ST .
that he was very handsome, after bronzed,
manly fashion.
care you--you married ?'' Mile asked
the question springing from her lips oeIoie
she could realize how ridiculous it was in
her to ask it.
Her cheeks were in fame as be looked
at her, laughing musically.
"No, Pm not" he declared.
He added, with an audaciousness that
covered Millie with yet deeper confusion:
ST have in mind young lady, however,
to whom mean: to make proposal OF mar
rage as soon as we become a little petter
acquainted"
"Yonder is our house, and-I don't thi nix
| it will rain, after ALL" said Millie.
| And q sudden pull at the reins caused
| Billy to amble somewhat faster.
"Of course he had to say something aiter
my presumpt ion," she reasoned, while her
| heart beat in fashion that resentment dlo
not excite.
| Motherly Mrs. Leaver was too obliging
to refuse the strangers request, ana DIE.
Bronson was assigned to her best spare
chamber, over the sitting room.
|
| if you can put up with plain fare" she
said.
| And the next two weeks were the short
est and happiest Mile had ever known.
| Don't set too much store by him till you re
sure he means something by his attentions,
cautioned Mrs. Leaver one day.
81 enjoy talking with him because he Is
so jolly-that is all. mother. said Miliie, as
| though she was the most heartless coquette
| in the world.
| But the observant mother knew better.
"Mind what say, child" Mrs. Leaver
persisted
The very next morning, as Millie was
filling vase with fresh flowers 10 MIR. Bron-
sons room, she noticed a photograph on
small easel on the dressing table.
| 1t was of woman, young and very beau
tiful, although there was something in the
slightly hollow cheeks that indicated failing
health in the original.
Mile looked at it with sudden pang OF
| jealousy. This changed to different yet
keener pain as she took it up and read up
on the back these words, written with a
pen:
| .iMy first and only love-
ssMaud Hawey Bronson, married De-
csmber 23rd, 1885; died February 3rd, 1886.
P. L. B."
AS Miles gaze devoured these lines it
grew suddenly dark about her. She would
have tainted had she not been called to
more practical action by the voice of Dick,
her twelvs-year-old brother, calling from
the foot of the stairs:
'sMillie Mile p'
s'Yes, in a moment" she responded.
ITO think that he is a widower, and as
happy and thoughtless as school boy, and
his poor, beautiful wife in her grave only
four months!" whirled through Miles
brain as she ran into her own room to CON-
pose her face before the glass, that her
mother might not see her suffering.
'Why don't you come along and not
keep your beau waiting all day?" came
! again from below, in accents that might
have been heard for an eighth of mile in
sill directions.
There was no further danger of Miles
fsinting away. Her heart bounded, her
cheeks famed.
paul Bronson waiting for ma!' she ex.
claimed.
She compressed her lips for ono intense
moment, and then said
| 81 will see him, and IL"
What she would do she left unspoken.-
| She ran down the stairs, and found Paul
in the porch, watching g rather spirited
horse from the village.
| "Obliged to drive over to Ridgway-ten
miles-thought you might like to CO." he
explained.
''Better ride out with yer beau!" inter
polated Dick, with youngsters delight in
an older sisters confusion.
''put on your hat, Mile, it is warm
enough, and never mind about another
| 1rcuc for uo1, ara no pfipr annr,nf, in
the one you have oD,' added MIR. Bron-
son.
81 will go with him. thought Mile,
with vague determination to make this
heartless widower suffer IS he deserved for
his levity.
as she vent for her hat she met her
mother face to face.
''Millie, what has happened?' was the
anxious Inquiry.
| ''Nnthng, mother" trying to break
away from the gentle, OBTAINING hand.
"reil me, child. You are pale as a
ghost"
"Tm going to ride, mother. Please let
me go!'
And she broke away, and in moment
more was seated beside Paul Bronson in
the light trap
They were well out upon the shady road,
GRANGE blowing in their faces, before a
word was uttered.
chow very dignified you have become,
Miller he at length said.
''There are occasions when it is eminent t.
ly proper to be dignifed," she frigidly re.
torted.
'"He looked at her in quizzical surprise.
Indeed heremarked
And then after an interval of eloquent
silence -
"You remember, Mile, that when first
met you l said had a certain young lady
in mind to whom meant to make a propo-
sal of marriage when we became o little
better acquainted?
/ remember" Mile returned In q tone
intendedto express her most bitter scorn,
shat you have made a great many absurd
and-and sacrilegious remarks; and you
ought to be ashamed of yourself-there!"
Paul Bronson looked to see if there was
the light of insanity in Miles eyes; he
saw only Indignation aad tears.
"Tell ME, darling, what have said or
done to offend you!' She shrank away
from him.
81 shall not listen to such language from
IA widower! Aud your first and only love
hardly 10 her grave, too! And now You
would make love to-to-met'
Her voice broke She covered her face
with her hands. The horse walked slowly,
aad there was a very long interval of asi-
lence.
At last Mile stole sly glance at the
| face of her companion to see how he bore
up under the deserved denunciation.
He seemed to be bearing up Under it re-
markedly well, for he was INDUCING in a
silent fit oflaughter. He sobered instant
| iy, however, when be saw that she was
looking at him.